Oesophageal rupture in the course of conservative treatment of bleeding oesophageal varices.

Fatal oesophageal rupture is described as a complication of the management of bleeding oesophageal varices with repeated sclerotherapy and tamponade using the Sengstaken-Blakemore tube. The importance of chest radiographs is stressed in the early detection and prevention of malposition of the Sengstaken-Blakemore tube, as inflation of the gastric balloon in the oesophagus can result in oesophageal rupture.